Strike Over, Providence School Bus Drivers Head Back to Work

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The school bus strike that disrupted travel for thousands of schoolchildren in Providence has officially ended.

School bus drivers will return to work on Monday after voting to approve a new contract Saturday that resolved the 11-day walkout. A tentative deal had been announced on Friday.

The strike began Sept. 27 and affected more than 9,000 schoolchildren. The dispute centered on retirement benefits.

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza said the strike caused "an undue burden on so many families.'' He said he was happy the strike is over.

Total Lunar Eclipse Comes with Supermoon Bonus

On Sunday night, the moon, Earth and sun lined up to create an eclipse, which was visible throughout North and South America, where skies were clear. It was also the year's first supermoon, when a full moon appears a little bigger and brighter. (This video does not have audio)

(Published Monday, Jan. 21, 2019)

A spokesman for the school bus company First Student also said it was glad members of Teamsters Local 251 had voted to ratify the agreement.

First Student said it's agreed to contribute on behalf of its employees to the Teamsters defined contribution plan.